Combination tongs and poker device for fire grates and fireplaces



March 21, 1933. N. BALDWIN 1,902,

I COMBINATION TONGS AND POKER DEVICE FOR FIRE GRATES AND F'IREPLACES Original Filed Oct. 29, 1930 FIG. 4

Patented Mar. 21, 1933 V UNITED STATES PA T FICB- V NATHANIEL BALDWIN, or nAs'rrmunn emit, U'I' n:

COMBINATION TONGS AND POKER DEVICE rOfiIfmEGRATEsAND rInErnAcns 7 Application filed. October 29, 1930. Serial No, 491,858; Renewed June 21, 932;

The present invention appertains to. a combination device for fire grate tongs and poker. Ordinarily the poker and tongs are two separate devices.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive device which can be used as a fire poker or a clinker'tong incorporated in one device.

I attain this and other objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device held in a natural closed position against the tension of coil spring 7. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device held opened by the tension of the coil spring 7 Figure 3 is a closed side elevation of the device showing how the two rods are bent at each end. And Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the device.

In the several figures of the drawing, 4 and 5 are metal bars of any desired length bent at both ends to any convenient angle as shown in side elevation of Figure 3.

Ends 9, 9 are formed as handles and ends 10, 10 as poker ends or as jaws when the device is used as tongs.

The ends 10, 10 may be tapered a little and flattened somewhat on the inside parallel to each other.

The metal straps 6, 6 are rigidly fastened to bar 4 and formed about bar 5 to allow said bar to rotate laterally with respect to bar 4, so that 6, 6 forms a bearing surface thereof for bar 5.

Each end of spring 7 is rigidly secured to bars 4 and 5 respectively under tension so that the bars tend to remain open as shown in Figure 2. The device closed as in Figure 1 is handled by ends 9, 9 as a poker.

By separating ends 9, 9, ends 10, 1O separate due to the lateral rotation of bar 5 about bar 4 in the bearing surfaces 6, 6 as shown in Figure 2. This allows the open end of the device to be handled so that objects can be picked up between ends 10, 10 when ends 9, 9 are made to close together against the tension of spring 7 by the clasp of the hand.

The ridged projecting member 8 is securely fastened to bar 5 and serves as a stop bumpend to form handles and at the other end to er allowing bar 5 to be rotated laterally unti Smakes conta'ct'with bar 4 thereby limiting the lateral rotation of bar 5. Bars 4 and 5 may be hinged closely together in place of the metal straps 6, 6 allowing the said bars to have a; longitudinalmtatingmotion with respect to each other. Figure 4 is a top plan view ofthe device with a little different mounting and using a straight wire spring 12, in place of the coil spring 7 as shown in Figure 3. In Figure 4, 11, 11 are two short pieces of round iron pipe with the inside diameter just large enough to accommodate rod 5. These short pieces of pipe 11, 11 are welded to the same 95 side of bar 4 so that they form a bearing and guide for rod 5. The spring 12 has one end put through rod 4 near the center with the tip of the spring bent back so that it cannot pull out. The other end of spring 12 is ut through a hole in bar 5 just beyond earing 11, under a torsional strain, so that it will hold the bars 4 and 5 open. The spring 12 mounted as shown in Figure 4 also serves as a stop for bar 5 since the said bar can rotate laterally in bearings 11, 11 only to the point where end 13 of spring 12 contacts with the top side of bearing 11 in opening the two bars. Spring12 also keeps the two bars 4 and 5 in the same longitudinal position as it cannot stretch and with end 13 fastened beyond bearing 11 as shown the end 13 acts gs a longitudinal stop against bearing 11 for As the bars 4 and 5 are mounted in Figure 4 they can be used either as a fire poker when held closed or together or as a pair of grate tongs as described above; 7 I A I claim: i

1. In a device of the class described, two members permanently connected together to be rotatably movable with respect to each other, said members being each shaped at one form coacting jaws, and means connected to 35 both said, members normally to urge said jaws to the open position.

2. In a device of the class described, two memberspermanently connected together to be I rotatably movable with respect to each other,

said members being laterally bent at one end to form a handle on each, and at the other end to form coacting jaws, and a resilient torsional element having one end connected to each of said members to urge said jaws normally to the open position, said element serving to prevent relative longitudinal movement ofsaid members. 7 a 3. In a device of the class described, two 10 long members connected together and rotat-' ably movable withrespect to'each other, said members being provided with handles at one end and with'coacting jaws at the other end, and means connected toboth of sa-id members tending to urge said jaws to the 'open"positlOIL- v I i-sIn a device ofthe'class described, two long members connected togetherin a sub: stanti'ally parallel position and rotatably movable with respect to each other, said members being provided with handles at one end and with coacting jaws at the other end, and a spring acting upon said memberstending'to open said jaws. v i NATHANIEL BALDWIN. 

